Articulated floor mat

ABSTRACT

AN ARTICULATED FLOOR MAT FORMED OF HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED LINKS EACH HAVING INTGERNAL DIRT CHAMBES, TWO OPPOSED MARGINAL CONNECTING PORTIONS AND AN ENLARGED MID PORTION WHICH IS WIDER AT ITS BASE THAN AT ITS UPPER FACE. THE HINGING LINKS FIT TOGETHER IN SUCH A MANNER THAT A MAT BASE IS FORMED WHICH IS CONTINUOUS AND UNITERRUPTED. THE UPPER FACE OF THE MAT COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY SMALL OPENINGS TO PERMIT DIRT TO FALL INTO SAID DIRT CHAMBERS.

United States Patent 3,579,704 ARTICULATED FLOOR MAT Hans Holzl, Maulach, Germany, assignor to Kunststolfe, Hans Holzl KG, Maulacli, Germany Filed Feb. 25, 1969, Ser. No. 801,963 Claims priority, application Germany, Oct. 12, 1968, P 18 02 766.2 Int. Cl. A471 23/22; A47g 27/02 [1.8. Cl. -215 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to articulated floor mats formed of plastic links serially held in an alternate manner on spaced, continuous connecting means. Thereby a great plurality of hinging connections are formed that constitute a floor mat which may be folded or rolled.

The individual mat links known heretofore have, in a plan view, a rectangular configuration. Due to the alternate arrangement of juxtaposed links associated with the same connecting member, there remain in the mat series of openings having a width that equals the width of one link and a length which is approximately one-half to two-thirds the length of an individual link.

A floor mat of such structure has several disadvantages. Thus, for example, dirt falls through the openings in the mat base and accumulates directly on the floor. Further, the large openings on the top surface of the mat may make its use hazardous. Also, such large openings expose, even to the superficial viewer, the unsightly accumulation of dirt within the outline of the mat.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved articulated floor mat which obviates the aforenoted disadvantages, better fulfills its function, and has a very high degree of safety against accidents of various types.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved articulated floor mat which, while in use, has a substantially closed base and yet may be readily folded or rolled, and may be manufactured in a simple and inexpensive manner.

Briefly stated, the articulated mat, according to the invention, is formed of links, the base of each is, in its mid portion, twice as wide as in the marginal areas through which the connecting members pass.

By virtue of such an arrangement a substantially closed mat base is obtained which is advantageous in that no dirt may drop through the base to the floor and accumulate there as it was the case in floor mats of the type known heretofore.

For the known purpose of reducing their weight, but particularly in order to provide relatively large dirt chambers delimited by the continuous mat base, the links are, in a manner known per se, formed as hollow links having a central web portion.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper face of the individual links are in their mid portion wider than their marginal portion to such an 3,579,794 Patented May 25, 1971 extent that between two adjacent mat links there remains only a relatively narrow upper slot of desired width. The mid portion of each link base is enlarged by sprayed-on flanges to a width which is twice the width dimension of said marginal portion. The substantially closed upper surface of the mat has the advantages that the dirt chambers are enlarged and that the dirt accumulating on the closed mat base remains mostly undetected by the superficial observer.

It is already known to form the short edge faces of the individual mat links as convex cylindrical surfaces. To further improve the continuous, closed nature particularly of the mat base, according to the invention the end faces or edges of the marginal portions of each link are convex, while the shoulder-like edges of the mid portions protruding laterally beyond the marginal portions have a complemental concave cylindrical configuration.

The invention will be better understood as well as further objects and advantages will become more apparent from the ensuing detailed specification of a preferred, although exemplary, embodiment taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of one portion of the floor mat according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken axially through the end of a tubular connecting member embedded in a marginal semi-link;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an individual link, the upper face of which is provided with corrugations; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional side elevational view of an individual link, the upper face of which is provided with protrusions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT Turning now to FIG. 1, the articulated floor mat generally indicated at 1 is formed of links 2. held in an alternate manner on parallel extending connecting members or hinge pins 3. Each link 2 has two opposed marginal connecting portions 5 which are narrower than the width of its mid portion. It is seen from FIG. 1 that each link of the mat is attached by means of its connecting portion 5 to two adjacent hinge pins 3 and that the links hinging on the same two pins 3 form a series of laterally juxtaposed links separated at their upper face by relatively narrow slots 5a. It is further seen that links of one series interengage with links of an adjacent series in such a manner that the marginal portion 5 of each link in one series is received by a complemental opening formed by two juxtaposed links of an adjacent series. In each link 2 the base of the mid portion is extended by two opposed lateral, sprayed-on flanges 11 for the pur pose of enlarging said base to twice the width of that of a marginal portion 5. As seen through slots 5a in FIG. 1 and in sectional FIG. 3, the flanges 11 of adjacent links 2. are in an abutting relationship so that the entire mat has an uninterrupted, thus substantially closed, base. It is further apparent from :FIGS. 1 and 3 that the width of slot 5a formed between the upper face of two juxtaposed links 2 is twice the width of one flange 11.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 1, 2. and 3, each link 2 comprises a chamber 6 and 7 separated by a. web '8. The upper face of the mid portion of each link 2 has an elongated opening 9. The chamber 6 and 7 of each link 2 merges into a connecting space 12 which is delimited, on the top, by slot 5a and, on the bottom,

3 by two abutting flanges 11. Spaces 6, 7 and 12 define, according to the invention, particularly large dirt chambers.

The slots 5a and the openings 9 are, on the one hand, large enough so that loose dirt deposited on the top of the floor mat may easily drop from the upper face of the mat to the base thereof and be distributed in the chambers 6, 7 and 12. On the other hand, the slots 5a and openings 9 are small enough so that the user, when walking over the mat, may not readily see the dirt accumulated therein.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there are shown three adjoining links 2 as viewed along section line II-II of FIG. 1 passing through adjacent series of links. The two flanking links 2 in FIG. 2 are shown in their maximum length which includes marginal or connecting portions 5. In the case of the middle link 2 in FIG. 2., however, the section line II-II does not pass through the marginal or connecting portions 5; it traverses only the enlarged mid portion of that link. It is well seen in FIG. 2 that the terminal edge faces 5b have a convex semicylindrical configuration nested in a complemental concave semi-cylindrical configuration forming the terminal edge faces 10 of the enlargements projecting laterally of connecting portions 5. Hinge pins 3 extend coaxially with the semi-cylindrical surface 512. The cooperating cylindrical faces 5b and 10 further ensure the contiguous nature of the floor mat. Due to a small clearance between the plastic links and because of their elasticity, the mat may be easily rolled up or folded.

Turning once more to FIG. 1, for the purpose of providing substantially linear edges for the contour of the floor mat, some series of links terminate in halflinks 4.

Also, for the same purpose, between juxtaposed links of the last series on both ends of the mat there are disposed cylindrical members 18 which fill out the space between the marginal portions 5 of two juxtaposed links.

Under certain conditions it is important that the articulated floor mats be made of an electrically insulating, acid and caustic proof plastic material. For the same reasons which lead to the selection of such materials it is also advantageous to choose similar materials for the connecting members which are preferably designed as slender, rod-shaped members.

Turning now to FIG. 4, it was found to be particularly advantageous to form the connecting members or hinge pins 3' as plastic tubes (only one shown). As seen, the plastic tube 3 terminates close to the lateral edge face 4a of a half-link 4. A plug 13, having an annular shoulder 15, fits into a complemental cavity or recess in the half-link 4 and is provided with a pin 14 which is adapted to extend into the terminus of the plastic tube 3.

The plug 13 may be glued to half-link 4 or secured thereto by means of a putty. In case the half-links 4 are made of the same material as the connecting element 3', they may be welded together.

Even in those known articulated floor mats wherein the links are made of plastic material, the connecting members are made of iron wire or the like. Since, in the case of deforming or otherwise damaging the mat, an electrically conducting connecting member may protrude to the surface and establish contact with the user, dangerous circumstances may arise when electric insulation is essential. These dangers are eliminated by the fact that the connecting members or hinge pins to which the links are attached are made, according to the invention, of an electrically insulating plastic material. Besides their electric insulating properties, connecting elements formed as plastic tubes (as described in connection with FIG. 4) or stems, have the advantage that they do not corrode or deform like iron wires and cannot swell like hemp strings. Further, by virtue of the elasticity of the connecting members, the mat readily conforms to floor irregularities but regains its original shape once removed from such uneven surfaces. When iron or other metal connecting members are used, however, these, once they are deformed, maintain their new configuration. Further, if all the parts of the articulated floor mat, including the connecting members, are made of a plastic material, the mat may be flexed not only about the connecting members, but by virtue of an overall elasticity, it may be twisted or bent even in other directions without permanent deformation.

The movement of the upper face of the articulated floor mat occurring when the user walks thereon causes the dirt deposited on the upper face to fall through slots 5a into chambers 12 or through openings 9 into chambers 6 and 7. Concave portions 10 overlapping the adjacent links and the closely abutting flanges 11 prevent the dirt-as it happened in mats used heretofore-from falling directly on the floor between the mat links. Besides the fact that an abrading efiect of the dirt between the mat and the fioor is no longer present, this arrangement is advantageous since it is no longer necessary to constantly clean the floor under the mat.

Since the chambers 6, 7 and 12 of the links of the same series communicate with each other, they form channels which extend parallel to the connecting elements 3 along the entire mat. In order to clean the mat, it has merely to be lifted, held edgewise and slightly shaken. As a result, the dirt will fall out of the mat through said channels. If the mat is to be cleaned at a location remote from its place of use, it is carried, together with the dirt accumulated therein, preferably in a rolled-up condition.

In order to increase the adherence of articulated floor mats to the floor and to increase the anti-skid safety of the users foot on the mat, the external surface of the links may be provided with a particular profile. This is also advantageous in that dirt from the users shoes is scraped off and remains on the mat. In known mats, they are provided ribs or corrugations which are arranged transversely to the connecting elements and to the path of travel. Such ribs or corrugations on links 2 of the floor mat 1 are shown in FIG. 5 and designated with reference numeral 16.

According to another embodiment, which is particularly adapted for use as bathroom mats, instead of ribs, protrusions 17 are provided (FIG. 6). These protrusions on the upper surface of the mat have a strong massaging effect on the soles of the user.

If the articulated mat, according to the invention, is used as a bath mat, it is advantageous to apply a lasting scented and/or fungicide containing material to the mat during the manufacture thereof.

That which is claimed is:

1. A floor mat comprising (A) a plurality of links arranged in a plurality of adjacent series, each link having (1) a base formed of two opposed marginal portions and a mid portion, the width of said mid portion being twice the width of either of said marginal portions; the bases of adjacent links being in a contacting relationship with one another to form a continuous mat base,

(2) an upper face formed of two opposed marginal portions and a mid portion, said last-named mid portion having a width smaller than the width of the mid portion of said base, the mid portion of said upper face of any two juxtaposed links of the same series being spaced from one another to define a slot of relatively small width; the mid portion of said upper face having a width larger than the width of any of said marginal portions, and

(B) continuous connecting means passing through the region of said marginal portions of said base and upper face and hingedly joining said links together; all of said widths being measured in a direction parallel to said continuous connecting means.

2. A floor mat as defined in claim 1, wherein each link contains dirt receiving means accessible through said slots.

3. A floor mat as defined in claim 2, wherein adjacent marginal portions of the base and upper face of each link are connected with a convex edge face; adjacent mid portions of the base and upper face of each link are connected with a concave edge face; the convex edge face of a link of one series is nested in the concave edge faces of two juxtaposed links of an adjacent series.

' 4. A floor mat as defined in claim 3, wherein said convex and concave edge faces have the configuration of a semi-cylinder.

5. A fioor mat as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said connecting means extends coaxially with the longitudinal axis of said semi-cylinder forming said convex edge face.

6. A floor mat as defined in claim 2, wherein said dirt receiving means is formed of two chambers divided by a web portion; chambers in links of the same series form continuous channels.

7. A floor mat comprising (A) a plurality of links made of an electrically insulating material and arranged in adjacent series, each link having a base formed of two opposed marginal portions and a mid portion, the width of said mid portion being twice the width of either of said marginal portions, and

(B) slender rod-shaped tubes made of an electrically insulating plastic material, said tubes forming continuous parallel connecting means passing through the region of said marginal portions and hingedly joining said links together; all of said widths being measured in a direction parallel to said connecting means.

8. A floor mat as defined in claim 7, wherein each said tube extends from one edge of said mat to an opposite parallel edge thereof; each said tube is supported and terminated at each end by a plastic plug having an integral pin portion extending into said tube.

9. A floor mat as defined in claim 8, wherein said plastic plug and said tube are of the same material and are welded together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 102,123 4/1870 Herzog l5-238X 2,382,789 8/1945 Guignon 15-238X 2,673,365 3/1954 Moor, Jr. 15-215 2,795,001 6/1957 Wood 15-215 2,980,971 4/1961 Furiness 15-239X 3,093,870 6/1963 Brock l5-239X 3,120,670 2/1964 Amodeo 15-167 FOREIGN PATENTS 546,535 9/1957 Canada 15-215 968,955 9/ 1964 Great Britain 52-177 751,105 6/1933 France ...1 15-239 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner L. G. MACHLIN, Assistant Examiner 

